Inside the Miami Marlins with MLB.com beat writer Joe FrisaroTwitter

Rotation order not quite set

JUPITER, Fla. — There are no real openings in the Marlins rotation. But the order of the five starters may not yet be set in stone.

Aside from Josh Johnson starting on Opening Night (April 1) against the Mets, the rest of the order is subject to change.

Manager Edwin Rodriguez said on Saturday morning that Johnson is locked in at No. 1, but the team wants to make sure Ricky Nolasco is ready to pitch the second game.

Key for Nolasco is how he does in his third start, which is March 23 against the Braves.

“If Ricky feels good after his third outing, he should be ready to go,” Rodriguez said.

Nolasco is recovered from a sprained right thumb and surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. The right-hander has had two rough outings, including giving up seven runs in 2 1/3 innings on Friday to the Astros.

Nolasco feels fine, health wise. Rodriguez noted that it isn’t the health of his 28-year-old right-hander, “it’s the quality of his pitches.”

The Marlins would like their rotation to be Johnson, Nolasco, Javier Vazquez, Anibal Sanchez and Chris Volstad.

Rodriguez says more will be known on the order of the rotation after Nolasco’s next start.

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